Abstract: Objective To investigate and compare the HRCT demonstrations of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis before and after treatment for signs of converstion. Methods A total of 48 cases of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis were collected. And all of the patients received at least two CT scans before and after antituberculotic treatment. The differences of CT scan demonstrations of and around the cavitary lesions were analyzed, and the evolvement of cavitary lesions were observed comparatively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical differences before and after treatment. The residual ratio of residual cavitary lesion after treatment was selected as the control to calculate the odds ratio. Results Univariate analysis of the diameter of cavitary lesion (P<0.05), satellite foci (P<0.05), and adjacent bronchiectasis (P<0.001) were significantly associated with active cavitary lesions. The spikes and cords like demonstrations were significantly associated with residual cavitary lesions after treatment (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the diameter of cavitary lesion and bronchiectasis were significantly correlated with active cavitary lesion (P<0.05). And the spike and cords like demonstrations were significantly associated with the residual cavitary lesion after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion The spike and cords like demonstrations formed after anti-tuberculotic treatment are signs signaling the activation of cavitary lesions.

Key words: Cavitary/Pulmonary uberculosis, CT